Meaning
Water down means to make something weaker, less effective, less strong, or less forceful, often by adding water (literally) or by reducing the impact of an idea, rule, statement, or policy (figuratively).
Grammar and Usage
- Part of speech: phrasal verb
- Verb type: transitive (requires an object)
Patterns
- water down + noun
- They watered down the proposal.
- be watered down
- The law was watered down before it passed.
Literal use
- To dilute a drink by mixing in water.
Figurative use
- To weaken ideas, statements, policies, reports, emotions, etc.
Common Phrases
- water down a proposal
- water down a law
- water down a statement
- water down criticism
- water down a drink
Collocations
- heavily watered down
- slightly watered down
- water down the impact
- water down the meaning
- water down the message
Examples
- The committee watered down the original plan to avoid controversy.
- This juice tastes like it’s been watered down.
- The policy was watered down after several companies complained.
- Don’t water down your argument—be clear about what you mean.
- The speech was watered down to make it sound less aggressive.
- They accused him of watering down the report’s findings.
- She refused to water down her criticism.
- The beer felt watered down after the ice melted.
- The rules were watered down to make them easier to follow.
- The director watered down the story to appeal to a younger audience.
Synonyms or Related
- dilute
- weaken
- soften
- tone down
- play down
- lessen
Antonym
- strengthen
- reinforce
- amplify
- intensify